Hinrichs cards 75 as Bulldogs shoot 317

Hinrichs cards 75 as Bulldogs shoot 317

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Freshman Josh Hinrichs appears primed to rival junior Shawn Rodehorst for the title of Concordia’s top golfer this season. On Thursday Hinrichs’ three-over-par 75 ranked best among the Bulldogs’ quintet at GPAC Qualifier No. 1 at Green Valley Golf Course in Sioux City, Iowa. Rodehorst backed Hinrichs with a 78 to lead Concordia to a team score of 317, tying it for ninth place on the day.

The 317 team score comes in lower than any of the Bulldogs’ four rounds at last season’s GPAC qualifiers when Muller’s squad finished 10th in the conference. Rodehorst was the only Bulldog to place in the top 30 on the individual leaderboard in 2012-13. After one qualifier meet this season, Concordia has both Hinrichs (T-10th) and Rodehorst (T-24th) listed among the top 25 individuals.

The rest of the Bulldogs’ lineup on Thursday included sophomore Sam Simonson (T36 – 81), freshman Jared Knoepfel (T47 – 83) and sophomore Garrett Suchanek (53rd – 87). Suchanek moved up into Concordia’s group of five by shooting a 79 at the Doane Invite on Tuesday in Lincoln, Neb.

Rodehorst and Hinrichs are neck and neck for the top season average on the team. Rodehorst, a Kearney, Neb., native holds a 77.25 average after the first four rounds of the fall. Hinrichs lowered his season average to 78.0 after Thursday’s stellar round. Rodehorst broke the school single-season record last year by averaging 75.15 in 13 rounds.

Simonson, a native of Saint Libory, Neb., posted a career best score at a qualifier meet. Last year he finished in a tie for 34th place with scores of 87, 89, 88 and 84 at the four qualifier meets.

The second of four conference qualifier events (and final one of the fall) will be held Oct. 14 at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course in Lincoln, Neb. Two more GPAC qualifiers will take place during the spring season.

Midland, which shot a 299 on Thursday, holds a two-stroke advantage over Nebraska Wesleyan and Northwestern at the top of the GPAC standings.

The 65 golfers who navigated Green Valley experienced cool conditions and periods of rain on Thursday.

Bulldog men’s golf will now go 19 days before their next meet. Concordia will take part in the Morningside Invite on Oct. 8 when it returns to Sioux City.